Stirrup.



' J. 0. MILLER.

' STIRRUP.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1910. 1,028,763; Patented June 4, 1912.

702m 6." Mall'xdam M,

JOHN c. MILLER, or GRANTSVILLE, MARYLAND.

s'rIaaUr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4,1912.

Application filed August 5,. 1910. Serial No. 575,729.

means whereby the sections may be retained in their operative or assembled position to receive the foot of the rider and said means also serving to automatically swing the sections apart when the weight of the rider has been relieved from the foot portion of the stirrup to automatically swing the said section when the animal becomes unmanageable or when the rider is thrown from his mount.

With the above object in view, the invention resides in the combination and assemblage of parts as will hereinafter be fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stirrup constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a similar view 1 showing the members in their open position.

The improved stirrup is made up of sec tions designated respectively by the numerals 1 and 2. The section 1 is approximately U-shaped, having a vertical side wall 5, and lower wall 4 and an upper member 6, the latter member being adapted for the reception of the saddle strap which in this instance has not been illustrated. The lower wall 4 is provided adjacent its extremity with an opening having the side walls thereof depended downwardly to provide a pair of cars 7. The member 9 of the tread or horizontal portion 8 of the section 2 is provided at the juncture of the said parts with a depending tongue 3, the latter being provided with an opening which alines with the openings provided in the ears 7. These openings are adapted to receive a suitable pintle member. The upper or free end of the member 9 is provided with an opening 10 the same being adapted to normally engage with 'the extremity of the member 6 provided by the section 1. The foot rest or plate 8 is constructed of some resilient material and is slitted for a suitable distance, as at 12. The metal between the slot portion 12 is bent downwardly to provide a rest for the foot of the rider. The inner extremity of the member 8 is upturned as at 14, and the said upturned portion is heavier than the member 9 so that the member 2 is normally swung into engagement with the member 1 when pressure upon the member 8 is released. It is to be understood that the member 13 forms a spring which rests upon the member 1 and the heavy end 14 of the member 8 is sufficient to normally swing the member 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of. the drawings. It will be 'further understood that when pressure is exerted upon the member 8, the member 9 is swung at an inclination or at an angle with relation to the member 6 and'it will be noted that when pressure upon the said member 8 is released the spring 13 will have a tendency to force the member 9 away from and out of engagement with the member 6 of the U-shaped member 1. When this pressure is released, the member 2 will, through the medium of its weighted extension 14:, assume its normal position, see Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described the said invention, what I claim is A stirrup constructed as herein described comprising a substantially U-shaped member comprising a vertical element and a pair of spaced horizontal elements, the lower horizontal element being provided with an opening and having ears adjacent the said opening, a second element comprising a substantially L-shaped member having its lower horizontal portion provided with a depending ear pivotally connected with the ears of the first named section, the normally vertical wall of the L-shapedmember having an elongated opening which normally is adapted to engage with the horizontal member of the first named section, the lower or normally horizontal member of the L-shaped section being slitted, and the metal thereof bent "downwardly to provide a tongue, the

' said "horizontal member having its extremity upturned to form a Weighted element Which is adapted to overcome the Weight lat-the normally vertical arm of the said L-shaped member and force the spring normally into in presence of two Witnesses.

contact with the lower or horizontal arm of the substantially U-shaped member. 10

Copies of this patent may "be obta'ined for five oents ea ch, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 'D. 'C. 

